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Concert recap: UPMed tribute digs deeper into Cayabyab’s back catalog

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Edwin P. Sallan

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/entertainment/09/26/20190926-ryan-cayabyab-concert-1.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>&#x27;Ang SOAP Opera ng Buhay Ko 2: Musika ni Ryan, Medisina ng Ating Bayan&#x27; raised funds for the construction of a new Medical Science Building. <em>Jaypee Maristaza</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Almost one year after being named National Artist for Music and barely three months after being honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for defining music, Ryan Cayabyab is still being saluted by his peers. </p><p>Late last month, a group of seasoned and emerging young artists showed their affection to the man fondly referred to as Mr. C. with “Maestro Ry: A Tribute to Ryan Cayabyab,” a fund-raising concert that took place at The Theatre at Solaire and in support of the various charities of St. Scholastica College High School Batch 95.</p><p>A few weeks later, it’s the turn of the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Foundation (UPMAF) to stage its own fund-raising salute to Mr. C. through the concert, “Ang SOAP Opera ng Buhay Ko 2: Musika ni Ryan, Medisina ng Ating Bayan (Isang Pagpupugay ng Iskolar ng Bayan sa Pambansang Alagad ng Sining)” that took place last September 21 at the Philippine International Convention Center. </p><p>As the title suggests, the concert is the second in a series of fund-raising events organized by the foundation. This time, the intention is to raise enough funds for the construction of a new Medical Science Building. </p><p>Although it does not follow a similar script as “Maestro Ry” which pretty much tells the life and career of Mr. C through his most famous songs, “SOAP Opera ng Buhay Ko 2” did parade an equally formidable bunch of performers while digging a little deeper on the celebrated composer’s back catalog. </p><p>Being presented to a captive audience of mostly seasoned medical practitioners, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Velasco opted for more traditional arrangements of Mr. C’s hits that hewed closer to their original recordings, starting with The Wonderful Choir’s divine rendition of “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka.” </p><p>After the amazing but barely recognizable rendition by the Bleu Rascals during “Maestro Ry,” it was refreshing to hear a more familiar interpretation of the Basil Valdez classic. </p><p>The well-received choir was followed by a batch of singers identified with theater starting with Cris Villonco who sang “Limang Dipang Tao” with the kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm she is known for. She then introduced actor John Arcilla who took on “Hindi Simple ang Buhay” from the film, “Ang Larawan” with much aplomb. </p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/armanferrer1088/videos/10162186949380545/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Then came stage sensation Arman Ferrer who stunned the crowd with his operatic delivery of “Gloria” from “Misa” before eliciting a standing ovation with his riveting take on “Sometime, Somewhere,” a song originally recorded by Basil Valdez but was later identified with Regine Velasquez and most recently, Morissette who performed it in “Maestro Ry.”</p><p>Ima Castro, another musical theater artist, delivered a surprise performance of “Hello Joe Goodbye,” originally recorded by Deborah Mayfield for the film, “Desire.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/entertainment/09/26/20190926-ryan-cayabyab-concert-2.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Rachel Alejandro. <em>Jaypee Maristaza</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>More songs written by Mr. C for stage musicals followed, starting with a slew of songs from “Katy!” Actors Franco Laurel and Tim Pavino breathed new life to “Ang Entablado ay Mundo” followed by Cris Go, Pinky Marquez and Rachel Alejandro who took on “Pahiram ng Kanta,” “Aba Ba Ba Boogie” and “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako” before Alejandro completed the “suite” with “Halik ng Kahapon” from “Alikabok.”</p><p>The girl group Baihana featuring Mr. C’s daughter Krina delivered a soulful reading of “Mamang Kutsero” that upgrades IV of Spade’s so-so performance on “Maestro Ry.” It was a welcome treat to hear “Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang,” a song that was not performed on “Maestro Ry” even if it felt like Jaya was not the right singer for it. And “Hibang sa Awit” was how The Ryan Cayabyab Singers interpreted this number that ended this set on a high note. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/entertainment/09/26/20190926-ryan-cayabyab-concert-3.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Jed Madela.<em> Jaypee Maristaza</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Up next was a three-song segment by the incomparable Jed Madela starting with his soaring crooning of “How Can I,” the Martin Nievera hit that was interestingly rocked out by Urbandub in “Maestro Ry.” This was followed by the now seldom-heard “Iniibig Kita,” a solo hit for James Coronel, was next before capping things off with the Christmas song, “Munting Sanggol.”</p><p>An Esquire Philippines-produced video of Mr. C discussing the importance of constant learning, the next generation of composers and the state of Filipino music today was then showed to the audience. </p><p>In between the performances, there were segments that featured project chairman Dr. Melfred Hernandez and UP College of Medicine dean Dr. Charlotte Chiong who both gave more details about the fund-raising aspects of the project. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/entertainment/09/26/20190926-ryan-cayabyab-concert-4.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Lea Salonga and Ryan Cayabyab. <em>Jaypee Maristaza</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Finally, the spotlight was turned to Lea Salonga, the concert’s main attraction who performed a mini-show of her own beginning with a lilting version of Basil Valdez’s “Nais Ko” followed by her own inimitable take on Kuh Ledesma’s “Magbalik Ka Na, Mahal” from “Rama Hari.” Calling the honoree to join her onstage, Cayabyab then accompanied Salonga on her torchy reading of Smokey Mountain’s “Kailan” before completing her segment with an inspired performance of the 2019 SEA Games theme song, “We Win as One.”</p><p>As with “Maestro Ry,” all the performers then gathered onstage to deliver a joint performance of Mr. C’s signature song, “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” followed by something from left field with “O Bayan Ko” before ending the concert on a buoyant note with the Yuletide favorite, “Kumukutikutitap.” </p><p>Another night, another memorable tribute concert for Ryan Cayabyab. Here’s looking forward to more shows like this before the year ends. </p>

<p>Almost one year after being named National Artist for Music and barely three months after being honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for defining music, Ryan Cayabyab is still being saluted by his peers. </p>

Almost one year after being named National Artist for Music and barely three months after being honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for defining music, Ryan Cayabyab is still being saluted by his peers.